Frame construction for folding carriages



Nov. 27, 1951 w. c. TROENDLE 2,576,706

FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOR FOLDING CARRIAGES Filed June 2, 1950 INVENTOR. M11 64/? C. 7/?05/1 015 ,drroQ/vsy Patented Nov. 27, 1951 FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOR FOLDING v CARRIAGES William C. Troendle, Gardner, Mass., assignor to Thayer, Inc., Gardner, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 2, 1950, Serial No. 165,749

3 Claims. (01. 28036) This invention relates to new and improved frame constructions for folding carriages and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a folding carriage having a folding flexible body portion and a folding frame supporting the same, said frame comprising pairs of crossed interpivoted levers of the scissor type which are adapted to hold the flexible body portion extended when latched, and includin new and improved devices secured between the crossed levers and the lowermost portion of the folding flexible body to extend the latter downwardly at the bottom thereof and hold this region of the carriage in smooth taut condition when the crossed levers are extended, said devices embodying straps pivoted to the levers and extending above and below the crossing point thereof, and each having an outwardly extending projection thereon lying between the respective pair of crossed levers, said projection being adapted to be contacted and guided by the crossed levers as the latter are extended, so as to hold the straps firmly in desired vertical position providing against displacement of the bottom part of the flexible body portion of the carriage and holding said carriage body taut and smooth.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a carriage shown in folded condition;

Fig. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale illustrating the framework in extended condition; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the flexible body portion and illustrating the novel frame construction.

Even though folding baby carriages are extremely satisfactory for their intended purposes, they have a tendency to sag or become creased at the bottom portions thereof and it is proposed to provide frame means to overcome this in a simple but effective manner.

As shown in Fig. 1, there are illustrated wheels In supporting undercarriage spring l2 on which at each end thereof is mounted a lever as at l4, 16, in the usual manner. These levers are crossed and interpivoted at I8, and lever l4 rises to be pivoted to the top frame 20 of the carriage as at 22, lever 16 rising in the opposite direction to be interpivoted with relation to the pusher bar or handle 24. The pusher bar or handle 24 is provided with a latch means, as is conventional to hold the frame and body in extended condition. In Fig. 1 the parts are shown in folded condition,

2 but in order to extend the frame and the carriage, it is only necessary to pivot the pusher handle 24in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 26 until it latches with lever l6.

Depending from the top frame member 20 there is a folding flexible body portion 28. This body portion has no other support and when the frame l4, I6 is folded, the body portion naturally will fold down above the .running gear in the usual manner.

It is understood that the levers l4, l6 appear at each side of the carriage and the construction at each side of the carriage is the same as in Fig. 1.

A strap member 30 is pivoted at l8 to the pin that interpivots the levers l4, l6, and the strap is behind the levers, next to the carriage body. This strap depends below the pivot l8 as at 32 and above this point as at 33.

The depending portion 32 of the strap 30 is provided at its lower end with a pivot pin 34 swingably engaged with a down-turned ear 3!; on a cross bar 38 secured to the bottom of the carriage, see Fig. 3, wherein there is shown a cross rod 4!] inside the carriage, the material of the carriage being clamped between the cross bar 38 and the rod 40 as shown at 42.

As thus far described, it will be seen that the strap portion 32 which depends below the pivot point of the levers provides a rigid member which Will stretch the lower portion of the carriage body member 28 and maintain the same in desired smooth and taut relation when the crossed levers are extended.

The upwardly extending portions 33 of the straps 30 are-provided With outwardly extending projections 44 located between the levers I4, I B and in the paths thereof so that when the levers are brought up from the Fig. 1 position to the Fig. 2 position to be extended, the ends of the projections 44 are engaged by the facing edges of these levers and the straps 30 are thereby forced to assume and maintain an upright vertical position due to the fact that the levers I l, l6 assume substantially identical angles with the horizontal.

It will be seen that even though the straps 30 may tilt when the carriage is folded, relieving the pressure on the bottom portion of the carriage body, nevertheless, when the levers are raised to extended condition, the straps 3|] must be swung around to a vertical position exerting a downward force on the ends of the bar 38 and maintaining the material of the folding carriage 38 in smooth taut condition from the top rail 20 to the lowermost position thereof.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but What I claim is:

1. A folding carriage comprising supporting wheels, a scissors type folding frame including a p i of ni-w eds e rs and a l n ody-port on, the frame being connected to thebody to extend or selectively fold the same, a strap pivoted at the pivot point of the folding frame levers, said strap depending therefrom and connfi i fid to the body portion adjacent the lowermost part thereof .to hold the same taut, a projection on said strap extending between the levers .of the frame and contacted thereby to be centrally positioned with respect thereto to hold the strap vertical when the frame is extended.

2. A folding carriage comprising a flexible foldlng body, a crossed leverinterpivoted supporting folding frame therefor, a rigid cross member on the b d-y at the lowermost part thereof, a mem 'ber secured thereto and extending from side to side of thebody, a strap pivoted to themember at an end thereof, and aprojection on the strap for engagementby said levers as thelatter are-moved from folded to extended condition to center and position the projection and strap to cause the latter to be vertical and extend the lower portion of the body in taut relation.

4 3. A folding carriage comprising a flexible folding body, a crossed lever interpivoted supporting folding frame therefor, a rigid cross member on the body at the lowermost part thereof, a member secured thereto and extending from side to side of the body, a strap pivoted to the member at ane dt er f, a d proieetion-on th st ap for engagement by said levers as the latter are moved from folded to extended condition to center and position the projection and strap to cause the latter .tO be vertical and extend the lower portion WILLIAM C. TROENDLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNlTErD A'IZENIS Numbe Name Date 1,15 ,50 Kolb -r Nov. :2, 191.15 2 225,9 ,Kro l c n Dec. 2+1 1940 239M92 S e ert r .-r. .r Sept- 15, .1922 

